2008 R - 16 - OPPOSING THE CREATION OF 16 NEW CITIES AS IT IS INIMICAL TO PUBLIC GOOD AND ULTIMATELY TO THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON FEBRUARY 06, 2008 AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer

Hon. Gina Gulanes-Perez - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor
Hon. John Carlos G. Delos Reyes - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Rodel S. Cerezo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Sarah Lugerna Lipumano-Garcia- - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Edwin J. Piano - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Angelito W. Baloy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Aquilino Y. Cortez, Jr. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Elena C. Dabu - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Carlito A. Baloy- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - President, Liga ng mga Barangay
Hon. Cheenee F. Hoya - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SK Federation President

ABSENT:

None.


RESOLUTION NO. 16
(Series of 2008)

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE CREATION OF 16 NEW CITIES AS IT IS INIMICAL TO PUBLIC GOOD AND ULTIMATELY TO THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE


WHEREAS, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) staged its protest against the undue conversion of 16 municipalities into cities. According to the Local Government Code, amended by RA 9009, in order to be converted into a city, a municipality should have a minimum locally generated income of P100M and 150,000 population, and/or 100 sq. km. land area. Yet, these 16 municipalities were converted into cities in 2007 without meeting these requirements mandated by law which Congress itself enacted;

WHEREAS, the LCP is also in quandary of the integrity and principle behind the passage of Republic Act Nos. 9389,9390,9391,9392,9394 and 9398, otherwise known as the Cityhood bills which lapsed into law after the President failed to sign them 30 days after they were submitted to Malacañang. Despite failing to meet the requirements of Republic Act 9009, these were still passed by Congress;

WHEREAS, the League also expresses that the grant of unconscionable special treatment to the said municipalities violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause providing that all persons shall be treated equally in law;

WHEREAS, Olongapo City, as one with the LCP, agrees that the said move is not only UNCONSTITUTIONAL and inconsistent with the principles of Cityhood, it is also grossly UNFAIR to those municipalities who took pains to meet the criteria set by law;

WHEREAS, the City joins the LCP in its vehement opposition to the said unlawful conversion since existing cities, like Olongapo, had to suffer an alarming consequence. Instead of getting 14.3% additional Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) for 2008, they will only get 4.7%. This substantial reduction of P4B means the delivery of basic services will be adversely affected;
WHEREAS, considering the high demand of services in cities, due to higher population growth as well as urban migration, cities also serve as regional and provincial centers of education, health, employment, commerce, transportation and recreation. They cater to a large transient population needing services. The enormous IRA reduction, the outright consequence of the said conversion, will ultimately have a negative impact on the provision and quality of services our people so deserve;

WHEREAS, Olongapo City believes that this kind of gross violation of the law itself as well as its teeming impartiality should be stopped. The City also urges our legislators to arrive at a more rationale basis for Cityhood so that our cities can truly serve as engines of growth of our country;
NOW, THEREFORE, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present,

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled, to oppose, as it hereby opposes, the creation of 16 new cities as it is inimical to public good and ultimately to the general welfare of the Filipino people.

RESOLVED FURTHER AS IT IS HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be furnished the Office of the President, the Senate of the Philippines, House of Representatives, League of Cities, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), League of Governors, Vice-Mayors League of the Philippines and the Philippines Councilors League for their information and appropriate action.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, February 6, 2008.


CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO
City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer


GINA GULANES - PEREZ JOHN CARLOS G. DELOS REYES
City Councilor City Councilor


RODEL S. CEREZO SARAH LUGERNA LIPUMANO-GARCIA
City Councilor City Councilor


EDWIN J. PIANO ANGELITO W. BALOY
City Councilor City Councilor


AQUILINO Y. CORTEZ, JR ANSELMO A. AQUINO
City Councilor City Councilor

Con’t. of Resolution No. 16, Series of 2008.
- 3 -

ELENA C. DABU CARLITO A. BALOY
City Councilor President, Liga ng mga Barangay


CHEENEE F. HOYA
SK Federation President


ATTEST:

ELFLIDA S. SALMON
Council Secretary


APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON______________________.



JAMES GORDON, JR.
City Mayor

ATTEST:

DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.
Secretary to the City Mayor